The
origin of Priene and the foundation of the city
are ascribed to the Carians, the indigenous
population of the region, but legends are our
only guide for the earliest days. The oldest
remains have been dated to the 6th century B.C.,
and it was on the territory of Priene that the
site of the Panionion was located. According to
some sources, the Ionians first arrived and
settled here in the 11th century B.C. and the
city was founded either by Aegyptus of Athens or
Philotas of Thebes. The city possessed two
harbours, but both of these became silted up by
the alluvium brought down by the Meander river.
The new city was built on its present site in
350 B.C. At that time the city lay at some
distance from the sea and carried on its
maritime activity through the little port of
Naulochus...